Alkynylation of bio-based HMF to connect biomass processing with conjugated polymers and furanic pharmaceuticals

Acetylene-functionalized platform chemicals were synthesized for the first time based on biomass-derived 5-hydrohymethylfurfural (HMF). Demanded mono- and bis-ethynylfurans were obtained in high yields (89-99%). Plausible application of these products in the synthesis of smart organic conjugated materials and pharmaceuticals was addressed in a series of transformations. Conjugated polyacetylenic polymers with morphology control have been prepared with the incorporation of the HMF core.

Reference: Chem. Asian J., 2017, 20, 2652-2655

DOI: 10.1002/asia.201700940

On-line version: http://doi.org/10.1002/asia.201700940

The research was featured on the cover of Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry Journal